Ever wonder why we take courses on Islamic Studies? Why do we memorize vocabulary words like istikhara, tazkiya, ghusl, niyah, ikhlas, etc? What is the idea behind learning Arabic as a second language? Why do we even read Qur’an and Sirah? What is the purpose?
You may say that we have been created to worship God. True, but all Muslims worship God. What is the essence of this worship? The Prophet (s) came to teach how to live as Muslims – in submission to God. I believe the main goal of Islamic studies is not to produce people who regurgitate vocab words, or learn the rituals of the deen, rather to produce people with sound hearts – people of God. To produce individuals who would remind us about hereafter. Individuals who live an exemplary life – the life of sahaba and awliya Allah.
Past civilizations produced many great books, cites, inventions, monuments, etc. However, when we look at the life of the Prophet (s), he didn’t produce any of the above. He didn’t leave behind great books, monuments, cities that can compare to Damascus and Rome, or monuments in every corner, but he changed the entire social order. He brought the entire society from darkness into light. How? He simply worked on people. He connected them to God. Once this connection was established, he left them in the hands of God.
Thus, we inherit this legacy of the Prophet (s), to be amongst saliheen (good people) and use this alchemy to produce hearts of gold. The formula has been given to us by our beloved Prophet (s). Be people of God and you will make a positive change.
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Abu Musa (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (SAW) said, “The similitude of guidance and knowledge with which Allah has sent me is like a rain which has fallen on some ground. A fertile part of earth has absorbed water and brought forth much grass and herbs. Another part, which is solid, held the water and Allah benefits men thereby, who drank and gave others to drink, and used it for irrigation. But some of it has fallen on a portion of sandy land which neither retains the water nor produces herbage. Such is the likeness of the man who understands the religion of Allah and who gets benefit of what Allah has sent me with; he learns and teaches others. It is also the likeness of the man who neither raises his head on that account (meaning he does not benefit from what the Prophet (PBUH) was sent with) nor accepts Allah’s Guidance with which I am sent”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
–Nasihah
Posted on February 18th, 2007 at 5:31 pm
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